tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37715442869027068252014-10-03T00:57:07.159-05:00Swimming with EdgarRemembering the legacy of my grandfather, Mr. Edgar JeanSwimming with Edgarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15220153874140231870noreply@blogger.comBlogger29125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3771544286902706825.post-74065976154993521962012-04-03T23:48:00.000-05:002012-04-03T23:48:44.141-05:00When You Want to Quit...Don't! (And Other Lessons)Last Saturday my journey to 15,000 yards for cancer research came to a phenomenal end. Not only did I meet my goal, but I exceeded it swimming an extra 500 yards and for a total of <b>15,550 yards (8.8 miles) in 6 days</b>. If I were to total last year's yardage in the first "Swimming with Edgar" experience with this year's yardage than I would have swam <b>28,000 yards in 12 days</b>. <br /><br />Some of my family members drove up from Lake Charles (my hometown) to witness me swim the final distance. Also many of my friends came to watch me complete the final laps. I was grateful to have all of them there to support me. I truly enjoyed their company and cheers of support.<br /><br />As I reflect on the journey that I traveled in order to reach this point of accomplishment, a few lessons come to mind that I was reminded of along the way.<br /><br />1. When you want to quit...Don't!<br /><br />Quitting is not worth it. If anything step back from the situation, call "time-out" and evaluate your surroundings. Sometimes you just need to take a break from the situation. Clear your head for awhile and then step up to it.<br /><br />I took this approach during the week before I began the actual swim and it definitely made a difference for me. To take a break from the pool for a few days before I really began to swim made me miss being in the water. It also helped my body heal and prepare for the workouts ahead. Lastly, it gave me time to strategize how I was going to swim the next week. Making this decision to chill for a few days really made the difference for me when I decided to move forward.<br /><br />2. Learn to be Comfortable in the Confusion<br /><br />Many of the workouts I had leading up to the swim involved me tweaking my stroke and working diligently on the details of my swimming. At times those focused workouts were more tiresome than the ones where I just swam long distances one after the other. However, these are also the times when we must talk less and work more.<br /><br />Too many times when things get difficult we want to talk about it to anyone who will listen to us. Our teammates, co-workers, family members and friends are all examples of people that we want to complain to or ask them to share in our temporary sorrows. We must remember that the workouts we may be going through are only temporary and that they will eventually lead to better endurance and stronger will power.<br /><br />We must not let ourselves get so caught up in the moment that we say things we will later regret. In these situations we must not let the water get them best of us. Instead we must simply listen to our coach and swim the distance we're asked, the way we're asked to swim it. In the end it will pay off.<br /><br />3. You Don't Have to Have a Perfect Score to Be a Champion<br /><br />During the week before the swim my workouts were more difficult than ever before. I was swimming twice a day for long distances and it was taking up a lot of time to complete the prescribed workouts. Each day grew more difficult, but because of my determination I found a way to complete each one until the last day.<br /><br />The last day I was extremely tired, my shoulders were sore and I was dealing with a lot of responsibilities in other places of my life with very little sleep. It was at that time that I decided to make a choice. It was at that time I decided to "lose the battle, to win the war". In other words, I didn't finish my last days workout.<br /><br />Instead I chose to begin the resting and healing process. In my opinion this turned out to be one of the best decisions I made during this experience. Giving up on that last day's workout allowed me to take a step back, not continue to aggravate any other parts of my body or make the ones I had already irritated worse and allowed me to most importantly rest my mind. By the time Monday came and the swim was to begin I was ready to go because I was stronger, I had a plan of attack and my body was ready to go.<br /><br />4. The Most Important Things in Life are the Things that Only We Can Take Care Of<br /><br />This lesson is the most important one of all. In order for us to reach our full potential in life we must accept this lesson, embrace this lesson and live by its meaning. We can stunt our growth as people or even hurt those we hold most dear if we don't follow through with this one.<br /><br />I know that as I trained to swim last week that only I could have completed this task. I don't say that from the perspective that only I could have swam 15,000 yards in a week, what I mean is that only I had put in the effort in practice and training, so only I was prepared to finish the end result.<br /><br />In life we must also realize that each one of us has our own set of responsibilities. Only we have the individual skill set to meet the need we see. We must take responsibility for our actions and do our best to help those around us and to make a difference in our world, no matter how wide our reach is at the time. <br /><br />In the end we must be the difference maker, we must be the one to make change happen. If we don't, then we'll eventually lose heart and lose out on what life is truly trying to offer us.Swimming with Edgarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15220153874140231870noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3771544286902706825.post-1927650663321386742012-03-30T00:43:00.001-05:002012-03-30T00:52:49.144-05:00It takes a TEAM to Accomplish Victory!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Many times we've heard the phrase "there is to I in team". However, there is a "me" in the word team and I know that I would not be my best me this week if it were not for the people supporting me throughout this challenging journey.&nbsp;</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">At the beginning of this week my mother drove up from Lake Charles to support me. She's been here for every session to count my laps and even helped me with a few personal errands and opportunities as I continue to work full time and do everything else that I would typically do during the week. I'm grateful for her and I know that I wouldn't be able to continue to perform at my best without her support.&nbsp;</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Pictured below is my mother and I next to the pool at Centenary College where I am swimming all of my laps. This picture was taken on Wednesday, March 28th, 2012.&nbsp;</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-cNaJcaRbdOc/T3U-8lAhbpI/AAAAAAAAANo/3e7KdkucK3c/s1600/IMG_0202.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-cNaJcaRbdOc/T3U-8lAhbpI/AAAAAAAAANo/3e7KdkucK3c/s320/IMG_0202.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Another person that I must recognize is my best friend, my girlfriend Jess. Despite the commitments she's had this week with working full time and with graduate school (amongst other things) she's been with me at the pool every night this week. She's been counting my laps alongside my mother and when my Mom drove home to Lake Charles this afternoon, Jess took over counting laps for me today.&nbsp;</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Pictured below is Jess and I at my 2nd swim on Wednesday, March 28th, 2012 at the Centenary College pool.&nbsp;</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-u2pfBiA_W64/T3U_CwU89zI/AAAAAAAAANw/wr6Rm7Pi5Qk/s1600/IMG_0203.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-u2pfBiA_W64/T3U_CwU89zI/AAAAAAAAANw/wr6Rm7Pi5Qk/s320/IMG_0203.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />Another person I must mention is my Coach Janet Martin. I would not have been physically ready for this week without her. I am the swimmer that I am today largely because of Janet and her work with me.<br /><br />There are others who've supported me along the way and have helped to make a positive impact on me throughout this journey as well. Without naming more names, I simply want to say "thank you" to you as well for your support.<br /><br />As I continue to reach for 15,000 yards I am grateful to report that I am <b>2,200 yards away from my goal</b> and that in <b>4 days time I have swam a total of 12,800 yards</b>. With swims totaling 1,500 yards, 1,600 yards, 1,300 yards and 1,400 yards since Tuesday, I am patiently swimming closer to completing my goal.<br /><br />I am thankful to have come so far and I believe that with determination and unwavering focus that I will reach my goal. In the end I know this wasn't just about me. I know I was the one swimming, but I also know and appreciate the fact that it took a team of people supporting me and encouraging me throughout this process that helped me to reach for my goal. Again, its not over yet, but at least at this point I can clearly see the light at the end of the tunnel.Swimming with Edgarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15220153874140231870noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3771544286902706825.post-25187443228091167592012-03-28T00:15:00.000-05:002012-03-28T00:15:57.679-05:00We've Come This Far By FAITHAt the end of the first 2 days of this year's swim challenge I am proud to announce that I have already swam <b>7,000 yards</b>.&nbsp;<div><ul><li>Day 1 Total: 3400 yards (Session 1 - 1,800 yards, Session 2 - 1,600 yards)</li><li>Day 2 Total: 3600 yards (Session 1 -1,800 yards, Session 2 - 1,800 yards)&nbsp;</li></ul></div><div>Also my mother drove up from Lake Charles to support me. She's been here for each of my swimming sessions thus far, helping me to count my laps and cheering me on. My fraternity brother Patrick came by the pool to support me on Monday and 2 more of the my fraternity brothers came to support me today. I'm also proud to say that my best friend/girlfriend came to watch me both nights and to count my laps alongside my mother. I'm grateful for each one of them and welcome others to come by the pool to show their support or to stop by for a few minutes to help me count laps as I swim.&nbsp;</div><div><br /></div><div>With my mother in town we've also been collecting and turning in money to the American Cancer Society for the donation portion of my swimming challenge. Despite what the online results may show, a lot of people have been mailing in their donations. I should have a new total for donations on Friday, but for now I've been told that the estimated total for donations thus far is already <b>over $1000.00</b>. To donate to the cause online&nbsp;<a href="http://main.acsevents.org/site/TR?px=26569768&amp;fr_id=38923&amp;pg=personal">click here</a>.&nbsp;</div><div><br /></div><div>God is good. That's all I can say. I feel good. I'm excited. I'm thankful. He's making a way just as He said that He would.&nbsp;</div><div><div><br /></div><div>In Hebrews the 4th chapter and the 2nd verse it says, "For we also have had the gospel preached to us, just as they did; but the message they heard was of no value to them, because those who heard did not combine it with faith." I'm here to tell you that the difference is faith.&nbsp;</div><div><br /></div><div>If you combine what you already know with hard work, intentional preparation, unrelenting determination and an attitude that's willing to sacrifice for your dreams, than <u>anything is possible</u>.&nbsp;</div><div>&nbsp;</div></div><div>I realize that the fight is far from over, but I also see the victory in sight. I'm focused and I'm not going to stop and until its mine.&nbsp;</div><div><br /></div>Swimming with Edgarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15220153874140231870noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3771544286902706825.post-28733406761110445982012-03-25T23:35:00.002-05:002012-03-26T00:11:32.712-05:00Here We Go!Lord,<br /><br />On the night before I begin this swim I turn to you. Ready. Excited. Focused.<br /><br />After having swam over 35,000 yards in preparation for this week, I trust you Lord to bring me the rest of the way.<br /><br />I dedicate this opportunity to you as a way to remember one of your fallen soldiers so that your light may shine even brighter in this world.<br /><br />Keep me dear Lord. Protect me from injury and guide me to the end of this journey in safety and in love.<br /><br />In your Son Jesus name I claim this victory. Amen.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><b>"Commit to the Lord whatever you do, and your plans will succeed."</b>&nbsp;</div><div style="text-align: right;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: right;">-Proverbs 16:3</div>Swimming with Edgarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15220153874140231870noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3771544286902706825.post-48182902987791492232012-03-18T17:55:00.000-05:002012-03-18T17:55:50.244-05:00Scriptures of the SwimBefore taking on this project I spent months thinking about this opportunity and praying for the Lord's guidance about whether or not I should take on this challenge. I wanted to make sure that He was with me because I know that I can't do anything successfully without Him.&nbsp;<div><br /></div><div>In turn the Lord sent me affirmation through the people He placed in my life who support me and also through His word. As I continue to move forward along this path these scriptures are the ones that I keep going back to throughout this experience. These scriptures are continuing to make a difference in my life.&nbsp;<div><br /></div><div><b>1 Corinthians 15:10</b></div><div><br /></div><div>"But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace to me was not without effect. No, I worked harder than all of them - yet not I, but the grace of God that was with me."&nbsp;</div><div><br /></div><div><b>Romans 8:18</b>&nbsp;</div><div><br /></div><div>"I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us."</div><div><br /></div><div><b>Psalm 37: 5 - 9</b></div><div><br /></div><div>"Commit your way to the Lord; trust in him and he will do this: He will make your righteousness shine like the dawn, the justice of your cause like the noonday sun. Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for him; do not fret when men succeed in their ways, when they carry out they wicked schemes. Refrain from anger and turn from wrath; do not fret - it leads only to evil. For evil men will be cut off, but those who hope in the Lord will inherit the land."&nbsp;</div><div><br /></div><div><b>Philippians 4:13</b></div><div><br /></div><div>"I can do everything through him who gives me strength."&nbsp;</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div></div>Swimming with Edgarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15220153874140231870noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3771544286902706825.post-85365413845746513292012-03-15T22:53:00.000-05:002012-03-15T22:53:55.183-05:00The Pressure is a Privilege because Pressure Makes DiamondsOver the past 4 weeks I've been training to swim <b>15,000 yards in a week</b> starting on Monday, March 26, 2012. As I train to take on this challenge I've been swimming in a pool measured in meters that has an end that is 12 feet deep. The pool I'm planning to complete the actual swim in is a pool measured in yards that has an end that is about 7 feet deep.&nbsp;Now for those of us who aren't big fans of math, the meter pool is longer than the yard pool and therefore is easier to swim in for long periods of time.<br /><br />This week my coach suggested that I begin to swim "2 a days" because the week of the swim I'll have to swim twice a day to reach my goal. I knew this time would come but when she told me I honestly didn't expect it to be now. However, I didn't complain, nor did I make any excuses. I simply said, "yes ma'am" and "How long (distance) do you want me to swim?"<br /><br />Sometimes in life (and in leadership) we forget the fact that its not about us. Many times the situation calls us to just be obedient and do what we're told. In this case all I needed to do was to trust my coach. She knows what to do. I know she has my best intentions at heart and she wants to see me succeed. My job in this situation is simply to swim.<br /><br />After 4 weeks of training in a longer, deeper and more difficult pool I went back to the pool where it all began. As I began to swim in this "new" pool I began to realize some of the deeper meanings behind training in a more challenging pool.<br /><br />1. Preparation<br /><br />Because I've completed longer, more difficult workouts in a deeper pool, I know that when the time comes for me to swim in the other pool I should have less issues to contend with. Many times life is the same way.<br /><br />Its easy for us to complain and make excuses when its hard. However if we'd just swallow our pride (or our fear) and move forward, we would realize that the challenge we're facing today is ensuring our success for tomorrow.<br /><br />2. Cool Factor<br /><br />Swimming in a deeper pool can be a challenge. The depth can be difficult to block out when you're constantly looking down at it. The length of the pool and the patience it takes to swim back and forth can be hard to deal with at times too. Being cool in the midst of a difficult situation can be easier said than done.<br /><br />However, the more you do it the more comfortable you can become with it.&nbsp;The majority of the crowd wants to have that ability, but very few people are willing to work through hard times to attain it. It takes courage to go after your dreams and it takes determination not to give up along the way. In the end, the results are worth it especially when the task is completed the&nbsp;<i>right</i>&nbsp;way.<br /><br />3. Confidence<br /><br />Confidence makes all the difference. It can be the difference between winning and losing. It can also be the difference between failure and success. Knowing that you can attain success in challenging times can make all the difference in achieving it in less difficult times. If I can swim successfully in a longer and deeper pool than I know I can swim in a shorter and shallower one.Swimming with Edgarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15220153874140231870noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3771544286902706825.post-74585932494109481122012-03-10T20:45:00.000-06:002012-03-10T20:45:38.283-06:005 Leadership Lessons I Learned From the WaterOver the past two days I've worked really hard to improve my swimming stroke, tighten up my form and build up my endurance. Now that I've finished my training for this week and reflect on my experiences there are some important lessons that I learned from the water. From my perspective these lessons translate into leadership lessons that could possibly help me in other areas of my life.<br /><br />Before I started these two workouts I had no idea that from these experiences these lessons would be produced. However, do we ever really know all of the lessons we'll pick up on the journey before we begin walking? In my mind, the answer is "no" and that's why the journey is so special.<br /><br /><u>Workout 1&nbsp;</u><br /><u><br /></u><br />When waking up at 3:45am on Friday morning I really did not know if I had the energy to truly fight through another swimming practice at the end of a long week. However, with the grace of God in hand and the lyrics of a few old school Jay-Z songs in my mind I drove to the pool to meet my teammates and coach.<br /><br />When I got there we swam a few laps to warm up and then my coach placed us in specific lanes to do a drill that I had never done before. We were about to complete what I later called "the circle drill". If you've ever trained with a team that plays a running focused sport (like soccer or basketball) than you may know a running version of this drill.<br /><br /><ul><li>Teammate 1 (usually the fastest swimmer in that lane) leads the group by swimming down the right side of the assigned lane.&nbsp;</li><li>Teammate 2 then counts to 5 and swims after them.&nbsp;</li><li>Teammate 3 then counts to 5 and swims in the same lane after Teammate 2.&nbsp;</li><li>Teammate 1 has the responsibility to lead the line by staying fast, focused and in rhythm. This will set the pace for the swimmers coming behind them.&nbsp;</li><li>Once Teammate 1 touches the other wall they then swim back to the wall where they started by swimming down the opposite side of the same lane and Teammates 2 and 3 follow them.</li></ul><div style="text-align: left;">I was assigned to be the 1st swimmer in my lane which forced me into a peculiar situation.&nbsp;Our assignment was to swim 4, 100 meter sets, 4 times or 1200 meters worth of circles.&nbsp;My teammates were depending on me for setting the tone for the drill. The responsibility to set the example was squarely on my shoulders. I had no room to complain about having little energy. I had no room for holding back. Instead I took off swimming to be an example that complaining is not a option and that it was going to take all three of us in our lane in order to finish the work that had been given to us.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">My 1st leadership lesson is<b>&nbsp;leaders lead by example.&nbsp;</b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">As leaders&nbsp;we must learn to set the example by our actions. Words are wonderful and they should be used genuinely and tailored to each team member specifically. However if we really want to lead and get the most out of those following us we must lead them by the example that we set. We must be willing to answer the questions that we ask them and we must be willing to get in the trenches and work alongside them whenever appropriate and necessary. Many times this means we must set the pace. &nbsp;</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">About half way through out 1st set of 400 I had forgotten about myself and <i>I was focused</i> on my team. <i>I was focused</i> on their energy levels and <i>I was focused</i> on how they were feeling. <i>I was focused</i> on keeping up with the time that our coach gave us to finish each set. <i>I was also focused </i>on the details around us, like keeping up with the time that we were given to rest in between each set so we remained within the boundaries that our coach set for us.&nbsp;</div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;">This brings me to the 2nd leadership lesson, l<b>eaders must remain focused.&nbsp;</b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">As leaders that is what we are called to do. We must think outside of ourselves. We must trust that if we lead to the best of our abilities and with good intentions for everyone around us that those behind us will see that leadership in action and follow us. We must understand that leadership is bigger than ourselves. Its bigger than our individual feelings and that its an inclusive process that requires the leader of the moment to protect and prepare a way for their team members.&nbsp;</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">In between sets I found myself encouraging my teammates by giving them "high-fives" and telling them encouraging words. My team got to know each other and once we got comfortable with each other we all got into a rhythm with each other. We shared our strengths and knew how to encourage one another and before we knew it we were more than half way done with the drill.&nbsp;</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">This is my 3rd leadership lesson, <b>leaders support their team members</b>.&nbsp;</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Encouragement goes a long way. In leadership we must correct situations before we see them go wrong, but we must also be just as quick to encourage and show support for our teammates too. The most important resource we have on our team is not money, not time and not our organization's mission. Our most important resource is the individual people that make up our team.&nbsp;</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Without our teammates we have no team. There is no "I" in team. Therefore teams are more than just about us as individual leaders. I realize there is a "me" in team, but even then leaders need their team members to always be at their individual best. Each team member must be fully invested in each situation in order to see the leader's vision come to life.&nbsp;</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><u>Workout 2</u>&nbsp;</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">After completing 3 difficult workouts already this week I went to the pool with the mindset to fine tune and make little improvements to my stroke in order to swim more efficiently and to get better in the future and that is exactly what I got from that workout.&nbsp;As leaders we must realize that there are "coaches" out there to help us. Each one of us needs a leadership mentor and we must check in with them consistently in order to make sure we're on a successful path.&nbsp;</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">This is my 4th leadership lesson, <b>leaders must remain open to suggestions</b>.&nbsp;</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Just because we made it to the top of our careers or we've been in our leadership position so long that we think we can do it all on our own, doesn't mean that we should isolate ourselves from learning more. There are always opportunities out there for us to get better. There is always someone out there who's sat where we sit now and who will give us feedback and tips to improve our performance. We only need to be humble enough to listen and consider their feedback.&nbsp;</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Our goals won't accomplish themselves on their own. As leaders we know we must work everyday, consistently towards making our vision the reality that we want to live personally and professionally. However, in this age of seemingly fast results (culture change is temporary, cultural transformation is permanent) and quick communication (constant emails and text messages from technology we can't turn off) we must learn that sometimes we have to push and sometimes we have to rest, but <b>we can't forget to rest</b>.&nbsp;</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">This is my last leadership lesson, <b>leaders must push&nbsp;</b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>but we can't make pushing a lifestyle.&nbsp;</b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">In order for me to get up and swim Friday morning and then go in for a full day of work I had to push, especially because it was the end of what had been a long work week. I also knew though that I had to get a decent amount of sleep that night in order to get up and swim again on Saturday morning. However, once I was through with my 2nd workout I knew that I had to schedule in sometime to rest which I did Saturday afternoon.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Rest is essential to life. If we don't rest we will wear ourselves out. If we don't rest we will wear down our immune systems. If we don't rest than our muscles will never recover. All these issues add up to inefficiency, mental fatigue (more prone to making mistakes) and ineffective use of resources which can then equate to larger losses of revenue and resources.&nbsp;</div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><br /></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>We must rest. Rest must be a consistent part of our lives.&nbsp;</b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">When we don't rest we slow down our progress towards reaching success and when we slow down our ability to reach for success we open ourselves up to a greater chance of failure. <u>No leader I know wants to fail.&nbsp;</u></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">As I move forward with this journey I look forward to next week. I look forward to another week of training. I also look forward to another week of sacrifice and hard work. After swimming a total of 7,700 meters this week I have a long way still to go to reach my goal of 15,000 yards in the same amount of time. However, with workouts like these under my belt and lessons like these to carry with me, I know I'm well on my way to reaching my mark.&nbsp;</div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><br /></b></div>Swimming with Edgarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15220153874140231870noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3771544286902706825.post-1120565696018701342012-03-08T01:18:00.001-06:002012-03-08T08:02:54.516-06:00Meet My Companions - Sacrifice and Hard Work<i>"I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us."&nbsp;</i><br /><div style="text-align: right;">-Romans 8:18</div><div style="text-align: right;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Growing up I remember times with my grandfather where he would share old stories with me. Sometimes those old stories revolved around moments of self-improvement and personal uplift. Specifically I remember him sharing with me memories from his childhood and stories about milestones and reaching new heights. Anytime his stories involved periods of struggle which were later followed by moments of positive change, I remember the elements of (1) sacrifice and (2) hard work always being involved.&nbsp;</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span">Over the years these two elements were characteristics that I soon respected, understood and accepted as a part of life. Whether its the times I&nbsp;</span>earned the opportunity to attend my church's ice cream parties for students who made the honor and banner roll as an kid,<span class="Apple-style-span">&nbsp;or when I painted the old dog house in my Mom's backyard as a pre-teen or even when I washed cars to earn the money I needed to pay to attend driving school and later earn my drivers license in high school, some level of (1) sacrifice and (2) hard work were always involved.&nbsp;Now as a man I consider these two elements my consistent companions and close friends because I know I will have to exercise with both of them now to get where I want to be later in life.&nbsp;</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Currently I am in the middle of my 3rd week of training for this challenge. Day by day training is getting a little easier to tolerate (not easier to do Coach Janet, just easier to go through). However, I know in the end it will be worth it. I can remember back to my 1st week of training and my 1st Saturday morning to get up early to swim. Frankly, it was hard and I didn't want to do it, but I knew I needed to do it so I got up and did it anyway. &nbsp;</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">I specifically remember that morning because it was a very cold morning and as I walked to the natatorium where the pool was on campus I can remember an image from one of my grandfather's old stories come to mind. I remember him sharing with me a story about the many cold mornings (years of cold mornings) where he'd wait outside for a ride to work. Those were the days when my grandparents only had one car. In those days my grandmother would take the car to her job in town and on the way she would drop my mom and uncle off to school or sometimes they would take the bus. He worked at one of the local oil refineries along with a couple of the other men in the neighborhood. At that time, the men would carpool together since they all worked at the refinery and it was far away from the neighborhood where they lived.&nbsp;</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">In my mind that took sacrifice. I can only imagine those mornings as he waited for his ride to come. Those cold mornings where he knew that in order to get to work he had to wait outside in the cold. That way he could get to his job and later get paid so that he could better take care of my grandmother, mom and uncle. Eventually the sacrifice he made then, affected my life as well because through my mom and her ability to get her education it later helped her take care of me. This then allowed me to be better educated and now I'm able to live the life that I currently live.&nbsp;</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">In the end that's what its about. Nothing in this life is free. Nothing in this life is given to you. At least not the valuable things, at least and not the things that are worth it.&nbsp;</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Just like it says in Romans 8:18, I may not see it now. I may not see why I'm suffering in the present moment or going through difficult trials, but later on He will reveal it in us and to us.&nbsp;Later on the Lord will show us the way.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div>Swimming with Edgarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15220153874140231870noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3771544286902706825.post-27049244208983068252012-03-05T21:31:00.003-06:002012-03-05T22:49:03.565-06:00Convicted to Finish What I StartedHere I am. Three years to the day I'm in the midst of another battle.<br /><br />It was today, March 5th, 2009 that I sat in this same room where I sit now writing this blog. Three years ago he left this world. Three years ago today I had tears rolling down my face. Three years ago I lost my grandfather.<br /><br />I've had and still have lots of great role models in my life, but none like him. It was hard for me to do this again. In fact part of me didn't want to do this again. However I knew that I had to try to do this again. I had to give it my all in order to <b>finish what I started</b>.<br /><br /><i>What would I tell him if he were here today?&nbsp;</i><br /><br />Grandpa,<br /><br />If you were here physically today, I would tell you that I kept all my promises.&nbsp;Grandpa, I would tell you that I'm doing my best to live up to your example and to remember the lessons you taught me.<br /><br />Lessons such as putting my family first. For example, I do my best to call Grandma every morning on my way to work. She tells me that she looks forward to my calls everyday before she leaves the house. I call my Mom when I leave work most days too and I pray for everyone each night before bed.<br /><br />I'm a deacon now, just like you were. I didn't know that it'd happen this fast, but God ordained it so and here I am. I'm even on the finance committee at my church like you were at Mt. Olive.<br /><br />I have a girlfriend now. She's wonderful - a God send. I wish you could've met her. I know you were 'old school' but you would've loved her. She's my best friend too, just like you and Grandma were.<br /><br />I'm going to be a doctor soon. I applied to go back to school and if God says the same I'll go to school to work on a Ph.D. I know at first you wanted me to be a medical doctor, but you saw in your last years that medicine wasn't for me. I believe education is though and in the end a doctor is a doctor right?<br /><br />You'd be proud of me if you could see me right now. I know you would.<br /><br />I miss you Grandpa. I'm doing my best to hold it down on this end. I'm growing into a man. Its kinda crazy you know?<br /><br />Just the other day I spoke at an Eagle Scout banquet at a local church and I thought about you and how you used to take me fishing and camping with my Boy Scout troop. Do you remember that weekend when it rained the whole time and you just kept going? The rain and the weather didn't phase you.<br /><br />I'm in the middle of the swim again this year. I decided to do it again because I believe in myself and I believe in this cause. This year I'm aiming to swim <b>15,000 yards in a week</b> which is <i>5,000 yards longer than last year</i>. You know last year a lot of people believed in me and <b>I raised $5,995.00</b> for cancer research. I'm grateful to God for this opportunity. I want to be an inspiration to others as you were to me and pretty much everyone you came into contact with.<br /><br />I'm focused on<b> raising $10,000 </b>again this year like last year. I would've regretted not trying to do this again. I felt like I had to do it. I felt convicted to do it and I am going to do it. I know you'll be watching down on me. I can see you watching me on the side of the pool as I swim, just like you watched me as a kid when I played baseball, basketball, football and all the other sports and activities I participated in growing up. You were there when I graduated from Centenary. You were there when I finished from LSU. I know you'll be there when I finish this opportunity too.<br /><br />Thank you for everything you taught me Grandpa. Thank you for all the lessons, but most importantly thank you for setting an example. Thank you for being you...I love you.<br /><br />Your Grandson,<br /><br />Chris - 1 Corinthian 15:10Swimming with Edgarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15220153874140231870noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3771544286902706825.post-66639595943185350212011-03-14T00:44:00.002-05:002011-03-14T00:53:41.415-05:00It's Over, But Is It Really Over?This had been a remarkable journey. A journey that had changed my life and one that I won't soon forget.<br /><br />I began on February 7, 2011 with a vision and dream to swim 10,000 yards in five days along with personally raising $2,000 for the American Cancer Society while finding organizations and businesses to match my funds up to $10,000 in memory of my grandfather, Mr. Edgar Jean.<br /><br />I'm blessed to have a wonderful family that supported me from the start. I was humbled to have good friends that jumped on board to offer solid advice. I was pushed and equipped to complete the distance in a sport I knew little or nothing about by a great coach and some experienced and dedicated athletes who took me under their wing to prepare me in a short period of time.<br /><br />Sure, I met some challenges and even some who didn't believe in me. I even felt some fear, as doubt tried to creep into my mind many times along the way. However, through it all I had a faith that couldn't be denied and the courage to finish what I started.<br /><br />At this moment, as I write what seems to be the last blog of this particular part of my journey I can say that I met and surpassed both my swimming <i>and</i> personal monetary goals, although the monetary part is not final nor official at this time.<br /><ul><li>In five days time, I swam a total of <b>11,050 yards</b>.&nbsp;</li><li>In six days time, I swam a total of <b>12,500 yards</b>.</li><li>Thus far in financial contributions I've calculated a unofficial&nbsp;estimated total of <i>over</i> <b>$4,000</b>.</li></ul><div>As I reflect back on this journey many lessons come to mind. Many of the steps I took throughout this journey seem to resonate with me as I look back at the path I took to get here. Through them all, one lesson that I feel that I have not emphasized enough throughout this process seems to bubble up and over the rest of them right now.</div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>You can do anything you put your mind to.&nbsp;</b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><br /></b></div><div style="text-align: left;">When I started this journey I wasn't a swimmer. I had barely any swimming experience and I had only recently gotten comfortable in the water. I started swimming because of a knee injury, which if it wasn't for the injury I probably wouldn't have even tried to conquer my fear of the water. However, with the right motivation (which at the time was to get back into running) I decided to have daily fights with the water. Months passed and slowly those fights turned into workouts and from workouts they turned into swimming. Now I stand, 40 pounds lighter, more comfortable with myself and who I am than at any point in my life, and with a mind of determination like I've never experienced before.<br /><br />I'm thankful and I appreciate each of you for your support, kind words, phone calls, emails, Facebook messages, text messages and following my blog loyally throughout this process. The only thing I know for sure at this point is that for the next week I'm going to rest. I'm going to recover and focus on soaking in the lessons that I've learned.<br /><br />The blog itself has been powerful. Its allowed me to open up to each of you and share with you my motivation, my love and my courage to complete what many saw to be an impossible task. Its been an integral part of this campaign as many of you have told me that its been inspiring to you along your journey through life as well. Many of you have been open with me about your support of the blog and that has confirmed for me that I've done the right thing for having it in the first place.<br /><br />A couple of questions you may have for me concerning the blog is:<br /><ul><li>Is tonight's post the last post? <i>No. I&nbsp;will continue to post information here a few more times on this blog over the next couple of weeks until I can get a solid and accurate count of the contributions people made. As I continue to get updated figures I will share them with you here.&nbsp;</i></li><li>How frequently will you post on the blog moving forward? <i>For now I don't know, but once I have a clearer picture of what will happen I will be sure to share it here too.&nbsp;</i></li><li>If you have other questions or concerns or would like to share some of your thoughts with me please feel free to do so by emailing me at <a href="mailto:chrislavan@gmail.com">chrislavan@gmail.com</a>.</li></ul><div>Lastly, I would like to leave you with one more thought that I have. Its similar to the one I shared earlier in this post. As I told you from the start, I am a man of faith. I cannot and will not deny that. Therefore, when you read the blog you must read it with that in mind. I've never been one to force my faith on anyone, but I am one to share my faith with anyone who will listen because its apart of who I am.&nbsp;</div><div><br /></div><div>I realize that what I was able to accomplish physically is not "normal". I realize that I am no Michael Phelps or <i>even better</i>&nbsp;Cullen Jones. If you've read my blog or know me I am not a swimming fan in terms of following the sport, other than watching it in the Summer Olympics every four years and being an inconsistent fan of Cullen's (Yes, below is actually a picture of me and Olympic gold medalist Cullen Jones from when he visited Shreveport a few months ago).<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-L6R3uLNVtZU/TX2qN9cW9xI/AAAAAAAAAMg/gUDIhzfwtw0/s1600/DSC06315.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-L6R3uLNVtZU/TX2qN9cW9xI/AAAAAAAAAMg/gUDIhzfwtw0/s320/DSC06315.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><br />However, what I do claim to know is that My God gave me this opportunity and has allowed me to do something that is beyond my own physical abilities. He gave me the insight to think this through even before I had claimed to want to do it. He put the people in place who would teach me the skills I needed to be successful. And on top of that, he gave me the resources to supply all my needs along the way. For that I must tell Him thank you and for that I must share with you this scripture.&nbsp;</div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>"I can do ALL things through Christ who strengthens me." (Philippians 4:13)&nbsp;</b></div><div><br /></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>I can. I just did. And so can you.</i>&nbsp;</div></div></div>Swimming with Edgarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15220153874140231870noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3771544286902706825.post-9827521418219742682011-03-12T02:48:00.001-06:002011-03-12T02:49:24.502-06:00Over and Above...I woke up with the mindset on Friday that I would finish the task I had started just a little over a month ago. I would not hold back today from finishing what I had started. I believed in this project from day one along with many others, but at the same time I had no idea that this year's opportunity would end this way.<br /><br />As I walked up to the fitness center I looked up and saw the sign pictured below. It reads, "10,000 (yds/$) / You've got this Chris!" It was actually up yesterday (Thursday) and was the highlight of my day. One of the students I work with at the college made it for me and she even surprised me by coming to the gym during my first Thursday workout. I appreciated what she did, especially because all of the students have this week off yet she still took time out from her break to make the sign and come by and see me. That was awesome!<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-wRDofrpn8qY/TXsaNm0CwiI/AAAAAAAAAMU/NvKPa43fJYc/s1600/DSC06527.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-wRDofrpn8qY/TXsaNm0CwiI/AAAAAAAAAMU/NvKPa43fJYc/s320/DSC06527.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />Today was special too because my coach was there. She's an amazing person and without her I wouldn't be in the physical shape that I'm in to have completed this task. Another cool thing about today was that the Centenary swim coach who originally encouraged me to swim in the first place was in the gym today too. Together they served as my audience as well as one of my other co-workers (who I also appreciate for being there).<br /><br />After changing into my swimsuit it was time. My game face was on and nothing was going to hold me back from moving forward to crush my original goal.&nbsp;I jumped into the water, forgot about all the distractions and focused on my immediate priority. When I started today's workout I had swam a total of 9,400 yards which meant I only had 600 yards to go to reach my 10,000 yard goal.<br /><br />As I swam, lots of thoughts and reasons behind why I started this opportunity began rushing to my mind. Images of my grandfather and the memories we shared as I grew up began to flood my mind like water rushing out of an open faucet.<br /><ul><li>I remembered him taking me to Boy Scout camp and teaching me how to fish.&nbsp;</li><li>I remembered our Checkers and Dominos games as he showed me what it was like to play fair with others.&nbsp;</li><li>I remembered the wooden nickels, the questions about girls growing up and the slick way he used to do his "happy dance".&nbsp;</li><li>I remembered him kissing my grandmother and the example of love they both showed me every time I walked into their home.&nbsp;</li><li>I remembered him letting me drive when I wasn't really supposed to and his patience as I slowly grew more confident behind the wheel.&nbsp;</li><li>I remembered his care and concern for me as I traveled and moved away for college. He always used to appreciate my calls back home to him and my grandma. He sometimes would say to me during those calls, "if something happens to me I want you to check on your grandma, ok?" I used to tell him, "yes sir, I will..." not knowing that the time he was referring to would be here sooner than later.</li></ul><div>As theses memories flooded my mind and I kept swimming to finish my goal, I could feel the goose bumps roll over my body. As I neared closer to my goal, my body began to gain energy while my heart began to pound harder with each passing lap.&nbsp;</div><div><br /></div><div>Finally, I knew the time had come. As I neared the end of the goal breaking lap my mind began to race as the choice became clear that I was either going to scream in excitement or cry uncontrollably. As I reached for the point of success I immediately chose to scream as I touched the wall for the last time. I then jumped out of the water with a "SPLASH!" It was over and I screamed as I finally completed my goal!<br /><b><br /></b><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><b>VICTORY AT LAST!&nbsp;</b></div><br /><b></b>I looked up at my coach who I had accidentally splashed with water in excitement and she smiled as she took my picture with her cell phone.&nbsp;I then bounced out of the water, grabbed my camera and we took a couple more pictures too. The evidence is below. This picture is of me (middle) with my coach (left) and one of Centenary's Swim Team coaches (right) who had also played a big role in encouraging me to start swimming over a year ago. Without these two and the remarkable roles they played for me in my life at just the right time I don't know where I'd be in the world of swimming now, if I'd even be swimming at all.&nbsp;</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-upYxF_-Ctbg/TXsiRbrfyoI/AAAAAAAAAMc/Xx3o-xDVWP4/s1600/DSC06529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-upYxF_-Ctbg/TXsiRbrfyoI/AAAAAAAAAMc/Xx3o-xDVWP4/s320/DSC06529.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><br />After we took the picture and I stopped to talk to them for a minute, I thanked them for their encouragement and support but then I turned right back around and kept swimming. I felt good enough to keep going. I had enough time to keep going and I wanted to truly crush the goal I set. I wasn't going to stop at 10,050 yards. I'm proud to say that when I finished my workout today I ended up swimming another<b>&nbsp;</b>1,000 yards&nbsp;which brought me to a&nbsp;<u>grand total of 11,050 yards</u>&nbsp;- 1,050 yards more than my original goal!<br /><br />Later on in the day, after I left the gym, finished working and gone home, it hit me. It hit me that I no longer have to be afraid anymore. It hit me that I no longer have to stand back or hold back from anything that I do. It does not matter if I look a certain way, wear a certain thing or have a certain possession. In fact it no longer matters to me what the world or the environment around me pressures me to do because I can do anything I put my mind to and so can you!<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><b>"For God has not given us a spirit of fear,&nbsp;</b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>but of power, love and of a sound mind." (2 Timothy 1:7)</b></div><br />All of us can do anything we put our mind to, if we just believe and <i>never</i>&nbsp;give up. I wasn't a swimmer when I started and I don't claim to be one now (even though I've probably swam more now in the last five days than the average recreational swimmer). However, I look at what He's been able to do through me because of this opportunity. <b>With the right motivation we can do anything. </b>Now is the time for us to get up from our daily routines and begin to go after what we truly want to do with our lives.<br /><i><br /></i><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><i>In 2011, it's time for us to stand up, put on our running shoes</i><br /><i>&nbsp;and chase, but more importantly catch, our dreams!&nbsp;</i>&nbsp;&nbsp;</div>Swimming with Edgarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15220153874140231870noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3771544286902706825.post-58961677748476012692011-03-10T23:44:00.000-06:002011-03-10T23:44:03.032-06:00The Giants Aren't Always As Tough as They Seem (Part 2)...Whether you're a Christian or not you've probably heard of the story of David and Goliath. If&nbsp;not you can&nbsp;find&nbsp;the story here in <a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1%20Samuel%2017&amp;version=KJV">1 Samuel 17th chapter</a>. The summary of the story is that David, a young shepherd boy, killed a huge experienced warrior named&nbsp;Goliath with a simple slingshot.&nbsp;No one truly believed David could beat Goliath when&nbsp;David volunteered himself&nbsp;for what seemed to be an insurmountable task.&nbsp;No one truly believed that David (who was a mere fraction of Goliath's size and strength)&nbsp;actually stood a chance of beating Goliath in a fight. <br /><br />The cool thing about this is that despite the fact that the majority of the crowd wasn't supporting&nbsp;him, David believed in himself and he believed in&nbsp;his God.&nbsp;After that, everything else fell in place. At the time David had his priorities in order. He knew what&nbsp;he believed and he knew who was supplying his needs. Therefore he didn't need anyone else&nbsp;to do anything else for him and&nbsp;at the end of the story&nbsp;David won the battle.<br /><br />In this modern age I bring this story up knowing fully and agreeing to the fact that, <em>no man is an island</em>. In fact, I don't even bring up this story to try to draw connections between David beating Goliath and what seems to be my possible victory in the pool this week. Instead, I bring this story up for the fact that we sometimes forget&nbsp;that David didn't beat or kill Goliath by hitting him with a rock in the right place. In fact, its quite the opposite because all the rock allowed David to do was&nbsp;fight Goliath on his level so that Goliath&nbsp;could no longer tower over him. We must realize that David was able to claim the victory because he&nbsp;used&nbsp;a sword to cut off&nbsp;Goliath's head <em>after</em> he had already knocked Goliath to the ground (verse 51).<br /><br />I also remind you of this story because so many times in life we are challenged with new problems, problems that may seem to be "Goliath" in size. When we're done being shell-shocked by these problems we somehow might scrape together enough courage to fight the problems and to some degree beat the problems. However,&nbsp;the problem is that once we have the problem broken and brought down to our level, we think the problem is solved. We also think the problem is over&nbsp;because we somehow were able to knock down our "Goliath". We then think&nbsp;that&nbsp;our&nbsp;problems will&nbsp;simply die from being knocked down. Let me remind you, our problems can get back up. <br /><br />We must first learn to truly finish off our problems and complete the tasks we've been&nbsp;given. If we don't we may end up having to fight an enemy who's&nbsp;twice as strong and even more motivated to beat us than in the beginning of the battle. <br /><br />With this in mind, tomorrow is the day that I finish off the physical part of this challenge. Today I swam a total of <strong>2900 yards</strong> (1700 during my first workout and 1200 during my second) making today the biggest swimming day of the week regarding yard accumilation. This brings my grand total up to <strong>9400 yards</strong> for the week and I still have at least one more day to swim.<br /><br />I could have easily gone out&nbsp;to celebrate this accomplishment tonight. However, I know that the battle isn't over just because I'm ahead of schedule. This opportunity is too important to me and to others not to continue to take it&nbsp;seriously. <em></em><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><em>I'm SO thankful for all of the love, support and the donations that have been made </em></div><div style="text-align: center;"><em>to the American Cancer Society in my grandfather's name.</em> </div><br />This has truly become an experience that I will never forget. Now I'm planning to not only to reach my goal&nbsp;tomorrow, but I also plan to surpass it. Next time I post on this blog (if God says the same) I will have gone beyond my goal distance of 10,000 yards. <em>Tomorrow I will reach for the stars! </em><br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;">﻿</div>Swimming with Edgarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15220153874140231870noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3771544286902706825.post-19701416016650369672011-03-10T00:45:00.001-06:002011-03-10T00:59:07.672-06:00Work Smart, Not Hard...When I started my swim today I was halfway to my goal. I had completed 5,000 yards of my 10,000 yard goal. However, today was "hump-day" not only because it was Wednesday, but because I had to push forward to get over the hump to finish what I'd already begun.<br /><br />I admit that&nbsp;my body is&nbsp;a little sore. I've never swam this much in such a short amount of time. I also admit its trying at times to keep going, but my grandfather never gave up&nbsp;on anything he did.&nbsp;Therefore with his memory in mind I wasn't&nbsp;going to slow down now. One of my friends on facebook&nbsp;told me to&nbsp;"keep my foot on the pedal", so that was my plan&nbsp;as I jumped into the water&nbsp;today - keep pushing no matter what.<br /><br />The other cool thing about today was that I had a lot of positive emails and messages when I got to work this morning because there was an newspaper article in The Shreveport Times (<a href="http://www.shreveporttimes.com/article/20110309/NEWS04/103090375/1002/news/Centenary-College-staffer-swims-raise-cancer-research-funding">click here to see it</a>) as well as a news story on one of the local news stations, KSLA (see video below) about this opportunity. (<em>Thank you to Lindsay&nbsp;Dean&nbsp;at the American Cancer Society, Melody Brumble of the Shreveport Times and Tracy Clemons of KSLA for setting up those opportunities for me.)</em><br /><br /><br /><ul><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><object width="320" height="266" class="BLOGGER-youtube-video" classid="clsid:D27CDB6E-AE6D-11cf-96B8-444553540000" codebase="http://download.macromedia.com/pub/shockwave/cabs/flash/swflash.cab#version=6,0,40,0" data-thumbnail-src="http://0.gvt0.com/vi/QbTmT_0WgDg/0.jpg"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/QbTmT_0WgDg&fs=1&source=uds" /><param name="bgcolor" value="#FFFFFF" /><embed width="320" height="266" src="http://www.youtube.com/v/QbTmT_0WgDg&fs=1&source=uds" type="application/x-shockwave-flash"></embed></object></div></ul><br />One of my friends&nbsp;randomly came and met&nbsp;me in my office today right before it was time to swim.&nbsp;It was&nbsp;great to see him and&nbsp;I'm glad he came even though I had no idea he was coming. When my mom left I had a feeling that someone else would show up to help me count and watch me during today's session and sure enough without me even asking that's exactly what happened.<br /><br />As I got into the&nbsp;water it was tough for me to truly&nbsp;warm up today. I was stiff at first and&nbsp;my muscles&nbsp;weren't moving as easily as they had the previous two days. However, that's when I learned that in order to successfully complete this challenge I had to <em>switch gears</em>.<br /><br />One of the lessons my uncle&nbsp;told me as a kid (which I believe he learned from my grandfather) is to&nbsp;<strong>work smart, not hard</strong>. Too many times we want to simply push through or power through something like a bulldozer going through a brick wall. We think we're strong enough to just keep pushing&nbsp;when in the end all we're doing is spinning our wheels, not getting where we want to be while drawing unnecessary attention to our inefficiencies.&nbsp;If we'd just take a&nbsp;step back and use a different strategy we'd be much better off in the long run. However,&nbsp;a lot of times that different strategy seems like a "less glamorous" or "less attractive" way to do things. It may not be as flashy and it might not catch people's attention like we want it to. Therefore we think its the <em>bad </em>way to do things. What we fail to realize is that the quieter,&nbsp;more efficient way is the way He wants us to go.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;">His way is a way of less stress, less grief and less pressure. </div><div style="text-align: center;">In the end we'll benefit more by going His route than our own&nbsp;route. </div><br />After stopping briefly to catch my breath I decided to use my energy&nbsp;more&nbsp;efficiently than to&nbsp;wear myself out swimming <em>hard with power </em>when I can simply <strong>let go</strong> and allow my body to natually glide through the water. I could then relax with each stroke. In the&nbsp;end I chose to <em>swim smart&nbsp;</em>or<em> swim quieter </em>and because of that choice I was able to go&nbsp;even farther than I had planned. <br /><br />I'm proud to say that by the end of the day I had completed <strong>1,500 yards</strong>, 500 more yards than I originally planned to swim. This brings my grand total&nbsp;up to <strong>6,500 yards</strong>. With 3 days to go things are looking pretty good for me to complete my goal right on time.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;">Side Note: In the newpaper article it says I'll be doing an open session of swimming on Saturday at 2pm in the Centenary College Fitness Center. Because of an unforeseen conflict I had to push the time back. <strong>I've rescheduled my last&nbsp;swim for&nbsp;5pm on Saturday.</strong> Admission is free to anyone who wants to watch. </div>Swimming with Edgarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15220153874140231870noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3771544286902706825.post-52174528033309700342011-03-08T23:39:00.002-06:002011-03-08T23:48:06.351-06:00Let Go...Today was special. <br /><br />Since I officially started this quest yesterday my mother took the time to drive up from my hometown (Lake Charles, LA) to watch me swim both yesterday and today.&nbsp;During my first&nbsp;workout&nbsp;a writer and a photographer from the Shreveport Times (the local newpaper) as well as representatives from KSLA (a local news station) and Centenary's Office of Marketing (<a href="http://www.centenary.edu/news/2011/0000040">click here</a> to see the Press Release) came out to watch my first swim today. I'm thankful especially because my mother was here to witness it and be apart of it. This man is my grandfather, but he's her father. I'm glad she was here to be apart of the moment. <br /><br />Once we spoke to them today's mission began. I started&nbsp;today's workout with the intent to repeat the success of yesterday by swimming another 2,500 yards. I got off to a good start although I admit that I was a little tense with the additional audience members around. One of my fraternity brothers came out to watch me too and I appreciated him for making time to come watch me for a moment. His grandfather also passed away of cancer sometime ago so we share a similar bond in that regard too. <br /><br />Nonetheless after I had warmed up things just clicked. I got into a rhythm and I zoned out. My swimming was smooth. I was focused and before I knew it I was done. Another 1,500 yards completed. I was excited, but something felt different as I got out of the water. <br /><br />At that point I could feel my body starting to react&nbsp;from the intense swimming. Even though I have been training for a month, swimming on average about 5 times a week, completing distances anywhere from 1,500 yards and higher (a couple times around 2,000 yards) my body wasn't quite prepared for fatigue like this.&nbsp;I realize I'm&nbsp;slowly pushing myself to my limits, but&nbsp;at that moment I&nbsp;was beginning to feel those limits. I knew I had to be smart about my second workout if I was going to complete it and still be able to keep going the rest of the week. <br /><br />Moms know best (or at least mine has proven she does over the years) and she made sure I understood that I needed to eat a lot and drink a lot before my next workout. I took mom's advice and did just that because I knew I needed&nbsp;more energy in order to complete my next workout.&nbsp;However, here's where things got interesting... <br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;">What I learned today is that He doesn't train us to take over, </div><div style="text-align: center;">He trains us so that we can <strong>let go</strong>. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><strong>﻿</strong></div><div style="text-align: left;">First, we must begin to understand that life isn't in our control. The more we focus and stress over things the more we end up&nbsp;draining our energy and hurting our chances for reaching our goals. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">When I came back to the pool to swim after work. I was amped up. I was ready, but I knew my strategy had to change in order to successfully swim the distance I set out to swim. I'm a big guy. I can easily just power myself through the water, but the problem with that is I would end up wearing myself down faster than I could physically complete&nbsp;the distance.&nbsp;Sometimes we don't&nbsp;understand that by "powering ourselves" through life and not simply choosing to <strong>let go </strong>we can wear ourselves down and end up not reaching our full potential. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">If I had actually tried to power myself through the water then I wouldn't have completed another 1,000 yards tonight. I chose to<strong> let go</strong> and because of that decision I reached my goal today. I completed another 1,000 yards in my second session bringing my total&nbsp;for the day to&nbsp;2,500 yards. Again, how did I do this? I learned to <strong>let go</strong>. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">When you learn to swim correctly you learn to use your hips. When I first started swimming over a year ago I used to have daily battles with the water. I used to fight the water to move through it. It wasn't until recently that I learned to rely on patience to help me "glide or cut" through the water. Sure my first instinct is to power through the water, but once I&nbsp;knew how to be more efficient with&nbsp;my energy&nbsp;I learned to let&nbsp;my old habit go. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><strong>We cannot progress forward when we still hold on to old habits. </strong></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">By relying on my core muscles and using my hips to guide my stroke, I was able to go faster for longer periods of time. Our core is who we are. We must learn to <strong>let go</strong> and use the tools we've been given, not be ashamed of our uniquenesses and respect the differences we've been blessed with. When we learn to put all that together, in time we'll go faster for longer periods of time while still reaching the distances we set out to reach with energy to spare.&nbsp;Now I'm halfway to my goal. In two days time I've completed 5,000 of my 10,000 yard swimming goal. </div>Swimming with Edgarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15220153874140231870noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3771544286902706825.post-52242391096087858432011-03-07T22:11:00.001-06:002011-03-08T22:27:17.295-06:00The Giants Aren't Always As Tough as They Seem...I think back to the day I started this journey on February 7th. On my 1st day of training my coach asked me, "Chris, what's the farthest you've ever swam in one workout?" I said, "750 meters and it took me almost 45 minutes." She then said, "I want you to do that today." My thoughts&nbsp;then turned to nervousness and a little panic as I wasn't sure if I could do it again especially when&nbsp;put on the spot.&nbsp;When I had originally swam that distance I was alone in the pool. I took my time and had lots of rest in between sets. I swam the distance in pieces and it took me a little while to catch my breathe enough to keep going.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;">Today was a whole different story.&nbsp;</div><br />After day one I have completed <strong>2,500 yards</strong>. I swam one session at&nbsp;lunch&nbsp;totaling 1,500 yards. After work&nbsp;I swam again for another 1,000 yards. Exactly one&nbsp;month later I'm swimming twice the distance I&nbsp;could barely swim a few weeks ago in the same amount of time.<br /><br />The battle is far from over, but I know that with proper recovery, rest and unwavering focus day&nbsp;two will be&nbsp;just as successful. <br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><em>Thank you Lord that in the pool as with life,</em></div><div style="text-align: center;"><em>&nbsp;the giants aren't always as tough as they seem. </em></div>Swimming with Edgarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15220153874140231870noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3771544286902706825.post-50364149708563973542011-03-06T22:26:00.002-06:002011-03-07T05:58:28.698-06:00Now is the time. This week is for YOU...We're here. I'm here. All the hours in the pool&nbsp;practicing my stroke.&nbsp;All the mental preparation. All the chocolate milk to replace the glycogen after each training session. All of those things and more lead&nbsp;me to this moment.<br /><br />The morning of the first day I started training after I accepted this mission the song "Lose Yourself" by Eminem came to my mind. As I sit here writing this blog post tonight the same song comes to mind again. <em></em><br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;">﻿I admit. I'm not a swimmer. I admit. I'm not an endurance athlete. I admit. I'm out of my element. However, the more I do this and the more I spend time in the water it proves why I'm perfect for this opportunity. This opportunity was made for me. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Too many times in life we give excuses why we can't do something. We say, "I'm not smart enough or I'm not big enough." Maybe its, "I'm too big&nbsp;or I don't have the right body type." We sometimes say, "I'm out of my element or it wouldn't feel right if I tried to do that." Well friends I'm telling you now if you don't do it, then who will? <strong>It's time we stop making excuses.</strong> Its time for us all to reach for our dreams. Its time to make things happen because they aren't going to happen on their own. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Whether anyone else believes in me or my mission doesn't matter anymore. I'm here. I've put in the work. Physically my body can handle the pain. Mentally my mind can handle the pressure. <em>When we do things for the right reasons God will put the right people and resources in our way to ensure our success. </em>I know He did that with me and this situation. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">I'll never forget sitting in church and hearing the minister read <a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew+21:21-22&amp;version=NIV">Matthew 21:21-22</a>. This was the scripture that solidified in my mind that I would move forward with this plan. Now a little over a month later I'm here. </div><ul><li><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: left;">He gave me a family who loves me and are doing all they can to ensure my success. </div></div></li><li><div style="text-align: left;">He gave me a coach. A coach that cares and who has pushed me&nbsp;to make sure that I'd be ready for this moment. </div></li><li><div style="text-align: left;">He gave me&nbsp;friends and people&nbsp;who support me&nbsp;and believe in what I'm doing.</div></li></ul><div style="text-align: center;"><em>I appreciate each of you for your love, prayers and kind words. I realize that no man is an island and I wouldn't be standing here if it weren't for the support that each of you has shown me. </em></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><strong>When we look through our physical eyes we can't see all the possibilities that our eyes of faith can show us.</strong> For example, if you were to look at me I admit that I don't have the body of a swimmer. However too many times we fail to see that its in our weaknesses that we're really strong. Its in our imperfections that we're truly perfect. Its when we think we lack something that we truly already have all we need.&nbsp;</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Yesterday was&nbsp;the&nbsp;2nd anniversary of my grandfather's passing. Compared to other anniversaries of loved ones&nbsp;that have&nbsp;gone&nbsp;by it was a calm day. I didn't shed a tear. I&nbsp;wasn't overly emotional. I took the day in stride. However, this week is for&nbsp;him. </div><ul><li><div style="text-align: left;">This&nbsp;week is for the games of checkers&nbsp;he and I&nbsp;used to play. </div></li><li><div style="text-align: left;">This week is for the sports games he used to attend to support me. </div></li><li><div style="text-align: left;">This week is for the stories he used to tell me of his childhood growing up. </div></li><li><div style="text-align: left;">This week&nbsp;is for the time he showed me how to tie a necktie and for the patience he had with me as he taught me how to ride a bike. </div></li><li><div style="text-align: left;">This week is for the wooden nickels he used to warn me about. </div></li><li><div style="text-align: left;">This week is for the trips&nbsp;we used to take together. When I was a kid I was the navigator sitting next to him while he drove us and I read the map. Then we I was old enough to drive I was the driver and he was the navigator. </div></li><li><div style="text-align: left;">This week is for my grandmother who I know misses the love of her life. </div></li><li><div style="text-align: left;">This week is for my mom and my uncle who relentlessly believe in me and who think about their&nbsp;dad every time they walk into my grandparent's house.&nbsp;</div></li><li><div style="text-align: left;">This week is for my aunt, a cancer survivor,&nbsp;who's currently taking care of her mother in Alabama as&nbsp;her mother&nbsp;fights a battle with cancer. </div></li><li><div style="text-align: left;">This week is for all of my family who went through a lot as we&nbsp;each played a role in&nbsp;helping my grandfather fight and eventually lose his battle with cancer. </div></li><li><div style="text-align: left;">This week is for all the families fighting&nbsp;to help their loved ones battle through cancer. I hope for each one of you that your loved one wins&nbsp;their battle.&nbsp;</div></li><li><div style="text-align: left;">This week is for life. </div></li><li><div style="text-align: left;">This week is for the drive and motivation to beat whatever obstacle is in your way. </div></li><li><div style="text-align: left;">This week is for love and overcoming the odds. </div></li><li><div style="text-align: left;">This week is for champions.&nbsp;</div></li></ul><div style="text-align: left;">Thank you Lord for this opportunity as I know you are the one leading me in this effort. Amen. &nbsp;</div>Swimming with Edgarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15220153874140231870noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3771544286902706825.post-69855095114090448172011-03-05T09:22:00.000-06:002011-03-05T09:22:08.920-06:00Fortitude...Fortitude is the strength to persist, the courage to endure. Often times I find myself in places of fatigue, many times a product of the work found within 12-16 hour days. Sometimes these days include travel with long lines and&nbsp;extended waiting&nbsp;leaving patience&nbsp;to be the only remedy for&nbsp;what can be seen as&nbsp;a persistently frustrating situation.<br /><br />At the end of many days like that it can be hard to see the good in what you're doing.&nbsp;You can feel like the&nbsp;energy has been drained from you, like you have nothing left to give. When you think about it, a continuous cycle like that can be hard to push through. A process that seems to never end can be hard to&nbsp;fully participate in everyday especially when you don't see nor feel the rewards of your labor as quickly as you feel the results of your strain.<br /><br />However, as we look for a&nbsp;source of everylasting energy to help support us through these rough episodes, we can&nbsp;sometimes find it in the place we least expect. He never promised us that this journey would be&nbsp;easy. In fact, He never&nbsp;made mention&nbsp;of anything close to smooth sailing. What He did promise&nbsp;us was that He'd never leave us and that He wouldn't let us fall, but at the same time its through trials that we are purified for the work that needs to be done. <br /><br />In the end its our state of mind that will deliver us. My grandfather knew this too. Each day we must evolve our thinking while&nbsp;constantly refining our habits to behaviors of unselfishness, caring and love for each other. We must accept the fact that if we want peace in our lives we must give peace to others. If we want love in our lives we must be sources of love for others. If we need strength in our lives we must learn to be strong for those who are weaker than us too. <br /><br />Before that becomes <em>fact</em> though we must realize that everyone we come into contact with isn't ready for this type of change. One way to look at this comparison is through the lenses of&nbsp;different soil types for seeds of character to grow.<br /><ul><li>Some people represent hard ground. When seeds are tossed their way the seeds won't grow because they will remain on the surface unable to be accepted into their lives and eventually being discarded. </li><li>Other times people can be seen as&nbsp;thorn bushes where&nbsp;seeds can be lost. The seeds given to them&nbsp;rarely make it through the obstacles of their&nbsp;rough texture and because of this their lives are slow to change. </li><li>Lastly there are those you may come into contact with who are ready&nbsp;for change.&nbsp;They represent fertile ground. When opportunities for positive&nbsp;development arrive in their lives they are receptive to those tools and&nbsp;ready to use them for the common good of those around them. </li></ul>We must realize that during our weakest points&nbsp;we are actually are given the opportunity to be at our best. Its when we're tired that we're really alive because its in giving that we receive. Its in forgiving others that we are forgiven&nbsp;and its in God that we will find eternal life and the restoration we need to continue our journeys day by day. <br /><br /><strong>&nbsp;<span class="woj">“Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. </span><span class="woj">Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls.</span> <span class="woj">For my yoke is easy to bear, and the burden I give you is light.” - Matthew 11: 28 - 30 </span></strong>Swimming with Edgarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15220153874140231870noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3771544286902706825.post-68381448488827809232011-03-03T22:16:00.000-06:002011-03-03T22:16:46.452-06:00This Too Shall Pass...<div style="text-align: center;"><strong>"This Too Shall Pass" </strong></div><div style="text-align: center;"><em>(an abstract thought process - not meant for correct grammar or punctuation) </em></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div>This = The moment you're in. The opportunity you're apart&nbsp;of. The situation you find yourself in.<br /><br />Too = Also. <br /><br />Shall = It will. Without a doubt will happen. <br /><br />Pass = Be finished. Will be completed. Will not be left undone. <br /><br />As I sit here that's what's on my mind. Soon it will be over. Soon it will be done. Sit and realize the importance of right now. Soak in the anguish and pain. Relish in the heartache and feel the uncomfortable pressure. See the loss of air. Paddle away from the water.&nbsp;Feel the walls closing in&nbsp;around you.&nbsp;Realize you're losing space and slowly becoming more and more confined. <br /><br />Use the pain for strength. Use the sadness to fuel your mission. Realize that this is all happening for a reason. Soon a time will come when this will all be behind you. <br /><br />Know that He is watching over you. He brought you this far and won't leave you now. Trust in Him now more than ever. The "lack of" that exists right now will create the "abundance in" tomorrow. <br /><br />Patience. Breathe. Patience. Stroke. Patience. Kick. Patience. LOVE. <br /><br />He will never leave you nor forsake you...<br /><br />Lose yourself in the moment. Forget about the pain and the prickly challenges that surround you. Knock 'em out one at a time. Sacrifice the pain now for the success&nbsp;in the future later. Sacrifice the time now for the success of the next generation&nbsp;who's coming&nbsp;next. <br /><br />Obedience is better than sacrifice. Love is stronger than them all.Swimming with Edgarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15220153874140231870noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3771544286902706825.post-5173948687535098852011-03-01T22:14:00.001-06:002011-03-01T22:30:13.202-06:00Stop and Think...Currently, I'm 27 years old. <br /><br />As I sit here and try to&nbsp;understand what 64 years looks like its very hard for me to do. As I reflect on this amount of time, I'm trying to wrap my mind around the concept of what 64 years looks like because that was the number of years my grandparents were married. <br /><br />Earlier&nbsp;I had a conversation about family with one of my co-workers that eventually led to a conversation about grandparents.&nbsp;She made a point in our conversation that I don't think I'll ever forget. As she shared with me her memories of her grandparents she said that too many times we as people get caught up in the wedding celebration vs. the the commitment of the marriage. Too often on tv, in the media or frankly in our own families, we see people who are newly engaged&nbsp;or newly married begin to get caught up in the moment. Instead of focusing on the beginning that this newly formed commitment signifies, we allow ourselves to let the one day celebration of this commitment&nbsp;consume our energy and our time.<br /><br />One of the things that my grandparent's generation did so well is&nbsp;that they&nbsp;knew and respected that marriage&nbsp;was a commitment&nbsp;for the rest of their lives. It didn't matter what&nbsp;challenge appeared, how much money they had or didn't have, they stuck through it all <u>together</u>. <strong>That's powerful. </strong><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><em>When you ask someone to marry you, </em></div><div style="text-align: center;"><em>you're basically&nbsp;telling them that you want to spend everyday for the rest of&nbsp;your life with them. </em></div><br />When you stop&nbsp;and think about that for&nbsp;a minute&nbsp;that's an incredible&nbsp;commitment to make. However, the commitment is not so much the&nbsp;problem. The problem is that we don't <strong>stop and think</strong>. Whether it be&nbsp;for a minute or a moment too many times we don't truly <strong>stop and think</strong> which causes us to take our words, our commitments and&nbsp;our blessings for granted.<br /><br />I was talking to a colleague&nbsp;from another college today and she made a&nbsp;joke in passing that&nbsp;later made me <strong>stop and think</strong>. She said something along the&nbsp;lines of,&nbsp;"your school must be doing well&nbsp;because you all have personalized luggage tags for your bags."&nbsp;At the time I just laughed at what she said and we continued&nbsp;our&nbsp;conversation. (What she saw was a Centenary Alumni luggage tag that I&nbsp;had put one of my business cards in and attached to one of my bags.) She meant no&nbsp;harm in her comment, but at a time when higher education&nbsp;as a whole is&nbsp;being cut and taken for granted its easy to&nbsp;take details like that for granted too. <br /><br />This situation reminded me that its easy for us to go on day after day, pushing and fighting for more when we truly have lost track of why we're pushing and fighting in the first place. We are trained to move quickly, work efficiently and&nbsp;do more with less. We strive for awards and recognition, higher test scores for our children and greater&nbsp;results for our employers. However, when do we <strong>stop and&nbsp;think</strong> for ourselves? When do we take a step back to make sure that all of our pushing is actually clearing a path&nbsp;that's positive and in the <em>right </em>direction?<br /><br />We need to learn to take&nbsp;better care of ourselves. We need to be better lovers of our own lives. Until we do these things consistently and with purpose, until we learn to <em>listen to our hearts by clearing our minds</em> on a more consistent basis, we'll keep allowing our lives to pass us by. Part of our reward for doing this for ourselves is&nbsp;we'll eventually and naturally begin to do theses things for others and with a fullness that we couldn't originally imagine. <br /><br />Growing up my grandfather used to get up in the middle of the night. He'd walk around the house, stand on the porch or look out of the windows. Some nights he'd do all these things. I remember this because as a kid&nbsp;I'd sometimes sleep over at my grandparents house&nbsp;which meant I&nbsp;could essentially stay up as late as I wanted to each night. (When I was a kid my mom wouldn't let me stay up all night at home.) Some nights I'd&nbsp;see him or hear him walking around the house. Some nights&nbsp;I could hear him whispering as he walked. Little did I know that those whispers were prayers. Prayers for me and my family. Prayers for friends and loved ones. Prayers for strength and guidance. Prayers for courage and love. <br /><br />Little did I know that those prayers were also reflections. Active reflections that helped him clear his mind so that he could continue to listen to his heart.Swimming with Edgarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15220153874140231870noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3771544286902706825.post-63782062160454697022011-02-27T22:53:00.004-06:002011-02-28T06:18:47.718-06:00Never Take a Wooden Nickel...As a kid growing up I spent a lot of time with my grandparents. For example, they would pick me up after school and take me wherever I needed to go. They would take me to sports practises, my weekly piano practise and youth church choir rehearsal at church. When I had days off from school and my mom had to work she would drop me off with them and I would go with them to walk in the mall or on their daily&nbsp;errands. During the summer I would travel with them too which is how I was able to see so much of our country. (At this point I've seen the majority of the 50 states except for parts of the northeast and northwest.) <br /><br />Through the years I spent a lot of time with both of them, especially my grandfather because he was the one that usually took me to sports practices or at least picked me up from them.&nbsp;Ever since&nbsp;I knew how to run I&nbsp;was always playing a sport&nbsp;whether it was baseball, basketball, tennis, soccer, track and field, volleyball or the sport I grew to enjoy playing the most - football. It was for this reason and others that I would spend a lot of time with my grandfather.<br /><br />Because my&nbsp;grandfather's job,&nbsp;and from&nbsp;simply vacationing with my grandmother, he had been all over the world. Through his many experiences he&nbsp;always had a story for me and most of his stories included a life lesson. One of the lessons I'll never forget is the lesson to "never take a wooden nickel".&nbsp;He told me this constantly growing up and&nbsp;for the majority of my life I thought&nbsp;he&nbsp;literally meant what he was telling&nbsp;me not to do - don't take take any wooden nickels. <br /><br />Growing up another thing my grandparents taught me was the importance of saving money. In fact they were the first ones to give me a piggy bank and along with my mom gave me a weekly allowance. My grandmother took this lesson to heart by teaching me this challenge on a weekly basis. Each Friday evening when my mom would come pick me up from their house, she would give me some change and my grandfather would too. As I grew older&nbsp;so did the&nbsp;allowance, going from just a few quarters to eventually dollars and a little more. <br /><br />As I learned the importance of saving the money I was given I learned the value of accumilation and growth. Along the way my grandfather would chime in, "Chris, don't take any wooden nickels!" In my earlier years, I would sometimes find myself looking through the change he or my grandmother would give me and say, "Grandpa, you didn't give me any wooden nickels this week." He'd calmly reply, "I know but be careful because one day someone else might try to give you one." <br /><br />Since those days of learning about money in an informal but important way, I've learned that my grandfather wasn't just&nbsp;trying to teach me about money. He was trying to teach me to be aware about life. So many times we get caught up in the rat race and to some degree get caught up in a daily trance. We go through the same routines. We talk to the same people. We even participate in the same activities and almost never break out of our "shells". This is where things can slip by us. This is where we can get careless. This is often times when we end up taking wooden nickels and before we realize it...its too late. <br /><br />We must learn to be aware of ourselves and our surroundings. We must learn to make asking questions of others, especially those we're closest to, a habit in our daily lives. Its too easy in this world of instant messaging, text messaging, gmail chat and Facebook&nbsp;to allow ourselves to "instantly talk to someone" or even "instantly build a relationship" without <strong><u>truly communicating</u></strong> with them. We cannot allow ourselves to take our relationships with our family, friends, co-workers and others for granted. We cannot even allow ourselves to take our enemies for granted because even they have a place and purpose in our lives. In the end, we must remember...<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><em>...things aren't always what they seem.</em><strong> </strong></div>Swimming with Edgarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15220153874140231870noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3771544286902706825.post-42111082412646716242011-02-27T00:26:00.001-06:002011-02-27T18:34:36.809-06:00Timing is Everything. Courage is ALL we need...<h1 style="margin: 0px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, &quot;Times New Roman&quot;, serif; font-size: small;">“A ship is safe in harbor, but that's not what ships are for.”</span></h1><div style="margin: 0px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, &quot;Times New Roman&quot;, serif;">-William Shedd</span></div><div style="margin: 0px; text-align: center;"><br /></div><span style="font-family: Georgia, &quot;Times New Roman&quot;, serif;">A lesson I've recently learned about life is that timing is everything. We can want something to happen or someone to walk into our lives until we're blue in the face, but if its not ready to happen then we're just spinning our wheels. In the end we'll know when we're ready because things will begin to fall into place naturally allowing us to do the rest.</span><br /><span style="font-family: Georgia, &quot;Times New Roman&quot;, serif;"><br /></span><br /><span style="font-family: Georgia, &quot;Times New Roman&quot;, serif;">Just recently I was able to conquer my fear of swimming in deep pools. I know that if the timing was off or if I had not been as comfortable in the water as I am now that I wouldn't have been able to successfully complete this challenge. </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, &quot;Times New Roman&quot;, serif;">The pool I've been training in and learned to <em>truly</em> swim in is more of&nbsp;what I like to call a "competition pool", where one side is maybe&nbsp;4 and half&nbsp;feet on one end and the other end is close to&nbsp;six feet deep. Either way it goes for someone around my height I can stand up on either end of the pool. However, in a diving pool that's not the case.</span><br /><span style="font-family: Georgia, &quot;Times New Roman&quot;, serif;"><br /></span><br /><span style="font-family: Georgia, &quot;Times New Roman&quot;, serif;">A&nbsp;"diving pool" (or a pool made for diving) is a pool that has a very deep end for people to dive into usually&nbsp;going to a&nbsp;depth of&nbsp;about 12 feet deep. When you swim correctly your head is flat in the water with your head down. You have the ability to breath when you turn your hips which lifts your head to one side or the other so that you can breathe.&nbsp;When you swim with goggles you can see where you're swimming. In a diving pool there's a huge slope that drops from around 5 feet to about 12 feet in the middle of the pool. Normally as you swim its good to know that if something goes wrong you can stand up in the water. In a diving pool you must remain focused because standing up in the water is not an option&nbsp;during part of your swim. </span><br /><span style="font-family: Georgia, &quot;Times New Roman&quot;, serif;"><br /></span><br /><span style="font-family: Georgia, &quot;Times New Roman&quot;, serif;">On Friday I was given the opportunity to swim with the Shreveport Masters swim&nbsp;team.&nbsp;A masters swim team is a program open to all adult swimmers (fitness, triathlete, competitive, non-competitive) who are dedicated to improving their fitness through swimming (see </span><a href="http://usms.org/"><span style="font-family: Georgia, &quot;Times New Roman&quot;, serif;">usms.org</span></a><span style="font-family: Georgia, &quot;Times New Roman&quot;, serif;"> for more information). My coach (who's awesome by the way) also coaches the masters swim team here in Shreveport. Through her invitation I was able to attend one of their practise sessions. Essentially&nbsp;this meant I was going to swim in a different pool than what I'm used to up until this point. Little did I know at the time that the new pool I was going to swim in was a diving pool.&nbsp;</span><br /><span style="font-family: Georgia, &quot;Times New Roman&quot;, serif;"><br /></span><br /><span style="font-family: Georgia, &quot;Times New Roman&quot;, serif;">When I got to practise I was both a little nervous and excited. I was looking forward to watching and learning from some strong swimmers and hoping that I might be able to pick up some tips for my swimming along the way. As I walked&nbsp;next to the new pool&nbsp;to meet my coach I noticed that the new&nbsp;pool had a diving board. Out of nervous curiosity I asked my coach how deep one end of the pool was compared to the other side. Just as I suspected one side was "normal" the other side was "deep" - 12 feet deep. </span><br /><span style="font-family: Georgia, &quot;Times New Roman&quot;, serif;"><br /></span><br /><span style="font-family: Georgia, &quot;Times New Roman&quot;, serif;">In my previous blog post I mentioned how when external pressures come our way we must find that place where we know we can go inside ourselves and simply relax. We must know ourselves well enough to have that place and know how to get to that place at all times. When my coach told me about this new challenge I went straight to that place inside of me. It was there (along with a small prayer) that I found the courage and the energy to jump in the pool. It was at that point that I knew I was in the right place at the right time. </span><br /><span style="font-family: Georgia, &quot;Times New Roman&quot;, serif;"><br /></span><br /><span style="font-family: Georgia, &quot;Times New Roman&quot;, serif;">As I got started with that workout I was able to block out the drop off. As I looked at the 12 foot bottom and swam over it a couple times I realized that it wasn't that bad. I realized that much of my anxiety was made up and I was the author. In the end&nbsp;I realized that I could do this and I would be just fine as long as I stayed focused and kept my composure. In the end I did just that and had one of my best practice sessions to date. </span><br /><span style="font-family: Georgia, &quot;Times New Roman&quot;, serif;"><br /></span><br /><span style="font-family: Georgia, &quot;Times New Roman&quot;, serif;">One lesson I learned from this experience was that we should never sell ourselves short. We should never be our own worst enemy. Instead we must learn to dive right into life. Of course check your surroundings and make sure you're jumping into a safe place, but in the end we must push our limits - that's the only way we'll get better. Also, until we learn our own&nbsp;limits, how else are we going to know how far we can push ourselves?</span><br /><br /><h1 style="margin: 0px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, &quot;Times New Roman&quot;, serif; font-size: small;">“If you wait to do everything until you're sure it's right, </span></h1><h1 style="margin: 0px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, &quot;Times New Roman&quot;, serif; font-size: small;">you'll probably never do much of anything.”</span></h1><div style="margin: 0px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, &quot;Times New Roman&quot;, serif;">-Win Borden</span></div><div style="margin: 0px; text-align: center;"><br /></div>Swimming with Edgarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15220153874140231870noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3771544286902706825.post-378846261385537352011-02-24T21:51:00.000-06:002011-02-24T21:51:25.488-06:00Pressure Is a Privelege...Sometimes while we're in the middle of things we just don't get it. Sometimes while we're in the middle of a situation things suddenly become harder than expected. That's when we must realize that we have an opportunity in front of us. We can either choose to play on and push forward or we can fold under the new unforeseen pressure. <br /><br />When things get hard we must first identify the source of the pressure we are now experiencing. This is important to do because sometimes the pressure we feel unnecessarily may be coming from within ourselves. In these situations we become our own worst enemy especially if we're not used to the pressure. <br /><br />In other situations the newly discovered pressure may come from an external source. A source that we just can't control. In these situations we must find that place inside ourselves that allows us to relax. Its important to relax because if we don't&nbsp;we could find ourselves&nbsp;begin to break&nbsp;under the pressure whether we realize it or not almost like this egg (see&nbsp;the video below).<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><object width="320" height="266" class="BLOGGER-youtube-video" classid="clsid:D27CDB6E-AE6D-11cf-96B8-444553540000" codebase="http://download.macromedia.com/pub/shockwave/cabs/flash/swflash.cab#version=6,0,40,0" data-thumbnail-src="http://2.gvt0.com/vi/lfaFAfoJwGo/0.jpg"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/lfaFAfoJwGo&fs=1&source=uds" /><param name="bgcolor" value="#FFFFFF" /><embed width="320" height="266" src="http://www.youtube.com/v/lfaFAfoJwGo&fs=1&source=uds" type="application/x-shockwave-flash"></embed></object></div><br />On the other hand when we learn to recognize the situation we're in and we begin to see the environment around us for what it is we then give ourselves the opportunity to "bounce back" from our new circumstances. When we know who we are and push ourselves to begin to see our surroundings for what they truly are only then can we make the adjustments needed to not only survive but to thrive. Our ability to be flexible despite the unforgiving environment we may be in could be the determining factor&nbsp;in how high we bounce back from the new challenges we may now be facing (see bouncing ball video below). <br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><object width="320" height="266" class="BLOGGER-youtube-video" classid="clsid:D27CDB6E-AE6D-11cf-96B8-444553540000" codebase="http://download.macromedia.com/pub/shockwave/cabs/flash/swflash.cab#version=6,0,40,0" data-thumbnail-src="http://1.gvt0.com/vi/3jI57WMOzbU/0.jpg"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/3jI57WMOzbU&fs=1&source=uds" /><param name="bgcolor" value="#FFFFFF" /><embed width="320" height="266" src="http://www.youtube.com/v/3jI57WMOzbU&fs=1&source=uds" type="application/x-shockwave-flash"></embed></object></div><br />Lastly, we must realize the great reward in conquering our challenges. When we choose to push forward despite our circumstances and surroundings we may discover that we were truly up for the challenge in the first place. Too many times we allow self-doubt to take hold of us instead of allowing our faith to raise us up. No matter how tough the situation may seem there's always a way to move through it and find our own success.<br /><br />In the end we must recognize and trust the natural law that <strong>pressure makes diamonds</strong>.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><object width="320" height="266" class="BLOGGER-youtube-video" classid="clsid:D27CDB6E-AE6D-11cf-96B8-444553540000" codebase="http://download.macromedia.com/pub/shockwave/cabs/flash/swflash.cab#version=6,0,40,0" data-thumbnail-src="http://3.gvt0.com/vi/SbNLqVCAG5s/0.jpg"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/SbNLqVCAG5s&fs=1&source=uds" /><param name="bgcolor" value="#FFFFFF" /><embed width="320" height="266" src="http://www.youtube.com/v/SbNLqVCAG5s&fs=1&source=uds" type="application/x-shockwave-flash"></embed></object></div>Swimming with Edgarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15220153874140231870noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3771544286902706825.post-86607444662419778622011-02-22T23:11:00.000-06:002011-02-22T23:11:03.848-06:00Strength: Where Does It Come From?I find myself in a place I've never been before. I'd be lying if I didn't admit that I feel like I'm moving forward with what feels like the weight of the world on my shoulders. I feel pressure. I feel responsibilities. I feel eyes on my every move. I feel stress. However, through it all, the external pressures don't matter as long as I continue to look forward and not allow the distractions around me to slow me down or stall my progress. <br /><br />Everyday there's something new. There's a new challenge on top of the other challenges I was already focused on conquering. Each day the stakes get higher, but at the same time the goal gets closer. In this sense I'm talking about more than just working towards swimming a large amount of yards in a week. What I'm referring to in particular is life. In fact, the training has become my escape, my way of relieving stress and doing something for me everyday.<br /><br />When I'm in that water I feel like His angels are watching over me. I feel like the Lord is my lifeguard. I feel like this is where I'm supposed to be right now. I also feel like my grandfather's watching me. Growing up he came to all my sports games. From the time I played tee ball as a little kid all the way through traveling basketball tournaments on the weekends as a middle schooler and up through football Friday nights in high school. He was there and he's with me now. <br /><br />More and more I feel my Dad too. I lost him when I was 16 to a sudden and massive heart attack. I miss him and think about him often especially since he was an Alpha and I am now one too. We never had the opportunity to "grip" each other up. If he were still here that would be the first thing I would do with him. <br /><br />Anyways, this strength situation. How to do find strength to listen to your heart when you live in world that requires you to give 12,&nbsp;14 or even 16 hours a day&nbsp;consistently day after day? How do you find time to keep some level of balance in your life when so many things, responsibilities and people are pulling on you? My answer right now is that you make time. In fact, you&nbsp;force the situation and you take time. No one can take care of you like you.&nbsp;No one can love you like you can love yourself. I learned this lesson the hard way. Its tough to take time, but you have to take the time in order&nbsp;to figure out what you want. Life is not&nbsp;about others. Life is about experiencing what you want to experience. Its about steering your own ship.<br /><br />How can I say that?&nbsp;On the surface that sounds very selfish. However, I've also learned that until I give to myself I won't be able to give to others. One&nbsp;powers the other. If I'm sick and broken down (I mean that more than just physically sick) then how can I heal others. God comforts us so that we can comfort others.<br /><br />It takes strength to say "no". It takes strength to let go. It takes strength to love yourself first so then you can give yourself the possibility to love someone else. I love me. I can&nbsp;say that openly and truly without a doubt in my&nbsp;mind. I love me physically, mentally,&nbsp;emotionally and spiritually. Because of this love, I have to be committed to patience, kindness and trust of myself and in turn it will open me up to the opportunity&nbsp;of sharing these things with others.Swimming with Edgarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15220153874140231870noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3771544286902706825.post-50601443996713643762011-02-21T23:43:00.000-06:002011-02-21T23:43:19.241-06:00In Life and in Swimming, Put Your Head Down and Move Forward...When things get hard in swimming we can sometimes find ourselves wanting to speed things up and move faster than we should through the water. We do this for many reasons including simply wanting to finish the lap that we're currently swimming. Many times this "speeding up" can hurt our form,&nbsp;dillute the power of our stroke&nbsp;and cause us to struggle through the water. In turn, if&nbsp;we allow ourselves to fight the water too long we end up more tired than we should be and more drained than ever before. What we should do instead is force ourselves to slow down, focus on the little things that make the big things go and simply put out head down&nbsp;and swim through the water. <br /><br />Many times if we'd simply put our head down in the water and not worry about the other swimmers in the pool our form will come back to us and we'll find that other important things will simply fall in line after that. Once our head is down, our spine straightens out,&nbsp;which can allow our hips to move more freely which can help our arms clear the water faster and on down the line. <br /><br />When things get hard in life we can sometimes find ourselves wanting to speed things up and move faster than we should here too. We do this for many reasons including simply wanting to&nbsp;move on to the&nbsp;next big thing, get the next big promotion on our jobs or simply accumilate more wealth or posessions.&nbsp;Many times this "speeding up" can hurt us more than help us. It can&nbsp;dillute the power of our minds and bring struggle and pain to us that we never thought possible. In turn, when we allow ourselves to chase after things we know we don't need or reach for people we shouldn't have then we end up wearing ourselves out and we end up more drained than ever before. <br /><br />What we should do instead is force ourselves to slow down, focus on the little things that make the big things go and simply put our head down and look at ourselves. Happiness comes from knowing oneself. In swimming just like in life, if we'd simply put our head down in the water, stay focused in our own lane and do what's best for&nbsp;ourselves instead of what's best for someone else, we just might end up finishing our race in the best time possible, faster and better than we even expected. <br /><br />My grandfather was good at this because he could tune out the distractions, focus on what was best for him and his family and keep moving forward. He knew how to keep an efficient stroke by knowing the direction he was swimming in and not worrying about the next person in the lane over from him. He made smart decisions, allowing for his resources to grow. He cared about his family and had a plan to see them prosper. Because he stuck to his plan I was able to benefit from his sacrifices. Because he was able to keep a steady pace in the waters of life&nbsp;he was able to travel the world, live a long and blessed life and give and serve others without hesitation. <br /><br />My grandfather&nbsp;was a champion in his own rite and he gave me the blueprint to do the same. Its because of his courage and his focus that I'm able to know personally what its like to sacrifice and work hard. Its because of his example that I too work diligently each day to build the same type of life he built for me and&nbsp;our family.Swimming with Edgarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15220153874140231870noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3771544286902706825.post-41797581610291717372011-02-20T22:19:00.000-06:002011-02-20T22:19:44.091-06:00Life As We Know It...This weekend I was fortunate enough to visit the&nbsp;<a href="http://bcri.org/index.html">Birmingham Civil Rights Institutute</a> in Birmingham, AL. It was an awesome experience. One that I would recommend to anyone. <br /><br />I was in Birmingham for work related reasons as one of my colleagues and I hosted a small group of international exchange students on an educational and cultural&nbsp;excursion&nbsp;so that the students&nbsp;could experience this unique southern city. Visiting the institute was apart of the itenerary for the weekend and going into this part of the experience I was most interested in the students reactions because of their personal backgrounds. (The students were mostly from France and Denmark with one from here in America.) However, little did I know that it was my own reaction that I wasn't prepared for that afternoon. <br /><br />As I began&nbsp;my experience in the institute I wanted to be open to new&nbsp;sights and sounds. I wanted to look for opportunities to learn new things. I wanted to see more than simply the facts and figures that I had been taught in school. <br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><em>Frankly, by the time that I got to the end of the tour </em></div><div style="text-align: center;"><em>I had tears in my eyes.</em></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">﻿Recently, I've had conversations with close friends about reading and the power that lies in books.&nbsp;One of the newest things I've realized&nbsp;that I've always known is&nbsp;that people can be and always will be changed when they do two things: (1) meet someone new and (2) read a new book. Well I can now add to the second part of that and say that when you read a book you've already read, but read it at a different point in your life, you will more than likely see things in that book that you've never seen before. Because of the experiences we might've had between the first time and the second time, our mindset and&nbsp;our thinking could be completely different from then to now. That is exactly what happened to me as I explored the Birmingham Civil Rights Institute. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Now that I'm a little older and now that I've experienced a few more things in life, all of the history I've read about took on a new meaning&nbsp;for me&nbsp;yesterday. Some of the things that I began to think about included the struggles that my forefathers lived through in order for me to be able to do things like vote, drink out of the same water fountain and swim in the same pool.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-9y1iXbNVVcU/TWHjk4QTuVI/AAAAAAAAAMM/cyIpBuhF2T0/s1600/seperate+water+fountains.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="207" j6="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-9y1iXbNVVcU/TWHjk4QTuVI/AAAAAAAAAMM/cyIpBuhF2T0/s320/seperate+water+fountains.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: left;">Another thing that came to mind were the stories my&nbsp;grandfather used to tell me about his struggles and the sacrifices he&nbsp;chose to make in order to provide for my family in particular my mother, uncle and grandmother. If it weren't for many of these people, I wouldn't be where&nbsp;I am today with the rights and privelegs that I have.&nbsp;</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">One of the last exhibits at the institute included a video of Dr. Martin Luther King&nbsp;Jr.'s&nbsp;"I&nbsp;Have&nbsp;A Dream"&nbsp;speech.&nbsp;The speech is&nbsp;awesome.&nbsp;I know the speech fairly well as a&nbsp;few years ago&nbsp;I recited it&nbsp;at my&nbsp;original home church in Lake Charles. However, when I listened to it yesterday it&nbsp;took on a&nbsp;new form for me and held a deeper meaning.&nbsp;&nbsp;If&nbsp;you've not watched it in its entirety I invite you to do so as I have posted it below.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><object width="320" height="266" class="BLOGGER-youtube-video" classid="clsid:D27CDB6E-AE6D-11cf-96B8-444553540000" codebase="http://download.macromedia.com/pub/shockwave/cabs/flash/swflash.cab#version=6,0,40,0" data-thumbnail-src="http://1.gvt0.com/vi/PbUtL_0vAJk/0.jpg"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/PbUtL_0vAJk&fs=1&source=uds" /><param name="bgcolor" value="#FFFFFF" /><embed width="320" height="266" src="http://www.youtube.com/v/PbUtL_0vAJk&fs=1&source=uds" type="application/x-shockwave-flash"></embed></object></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Lastly, for my preparations all is well. I had a great workout today and I'm up to <strong>1800 yards</strong> swimming. My coach is really pushing me with four new workouts this week. I'm excited. I'm renewed and I'm ready to move forward with this mission, one day at a time. </div>Swimming with Edgarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15220153874140231870noreply@blogger.com